Is Your Coffee Giving You A Sugar Jolt?

 Photo Source:  Flickr, Kalense Kid

It�s no secret that sugary beverages are the No. 1 source of added sugars in the diets of Americans.  But if you dig a tad deeper into the research, you may be surprised to find out that the Caf� Mucamuclogalacka (I made this name up) at your favorite coffee shop can also be a big contributor to your sugar intake.

Here are the major sources of added sugars in the diets of Americans:

Source: DGAC

While soft drinks rank high on the list, coming in at 25 percent, those sugary coffee and tea beverages contribute seven percent of the added sugars that Americans are gulping daily, more than double the amount that is coming from sport and energy drinks.  Research shows that added sugars in the diet are associated with excess body weight in both children and adults.

According to the latest Scientific Report of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans Advisory Committee (DGAC), added sugars should be limited to no more than 10 percent of your total calories daily.  If you are consuming 2,000 calories a day, this translates to no more than 200 calories, the equivalent of 50 grams of sugar, daily.  Americans, on average, are exceeding this level and are currently consuming over 13 percent of their calories from added sugars daily.

To help consumers become more sugar aware, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is pondering a rule that would require food and beverages companies to list the grams of added sugars per serving on the food label of their products.  Until this rule becomes mandatory, you can visit the websites of many coffee shops before placing your order to hunt for the grams of sugar in each serving of your favorite beverage.

But be aware that on these websites, lactose, the sugar that is found naturally in milk, is lumped in along with the sweeteners that are added to the beverage.  For example, if you add a � cup of nonfat milk to your large morning java, you will be adding 6 grams of lactose (the natural sugar) to the beverage.  This naturally-occurring sugar in dairy foods is not a health concern; and more importantly, milk is a terrific way to add both vitamin D and calcium, two nutrients many Americans are falling short of daily, to your diet. 

After scouring the Internet, here are some examples of popular coffee and tea beverages that provide an added sugar jolt as well as some lower sugary alternatives:

If you want to consume any of these sweetened beverages, keep to a small and reduce the added sugars elsewhere in your diet.

Be well, Joan

Twitter:  @JoanSalgeBlake